Wall sleeve

Abstract

A wall sleeve for recessed mounting into an opening in a wall. The wall sleeve includes a top sidewall, a bottom sidewall, a left sidewall, a right sidewall and a rear wall that cooperatively defines an enclosure with an enclosure opening located opposite of the rear wall. Each of the sidewalls have identical configurations, including portions defining at least one access opening and portions defining at least one mounting opening. The mounting openings having an effective diameter smaller than an effective diameter of the access openings.

I claim: 
     
       1. A wall sleeve comprising:
 a top sidewall; 
 a bottom sidewall; 
 a right sidewall, the right sidewall extending between and connecting one end of the top sidewall to a corresponding end of the bottom sidewall; 
 a left sidewall, the left sidewall extending between and connecting an opposing end of the top sidewall to a corresponding opposing end of the bottom sidewall; 
 the top sidewall extending between and connecting one end of the right sidewall to a corresponding end of the left sidewall; 
 the bottom sidewall extending between and connecting an opposing end of the right sidewall to a corresponding opposing end of the left sidewall; 
 a rear wall, the rear wall extending between and connecting together the top sidewall, the bottom sidewall, the right sidewall, left sidewall to cooperatively define an enclosure, the enclosure having an enclosure opening located opposite of the rear wall; 
 each of the top sidewall, the bottom sidewall, the right sidewall and the left sidewall having an identical configuration and including portions defining at least one access cutout extending therethrough and including portions defining at least one mounting opening extending therethrough, the mounting openings having an effective diameter smaller than an effective diameter of the access cutouts, the access cutouts being elongated openings through the top, bottom, right and left sidewalls into the enclosure; and 
 the rear wall including a plurality of mounting opening extending therethrough, the mounting openings of the rear wall having an effective diameter smaller than the effective diameter of the access cutouts. 
 
     
     
       2. The wall sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the portions defining at least one access cutout define at least two access cutouts, a first access cutout and a second access cutout. 
     
     
       3. The wall sleeve according to  claim 2 , wherein the second access cutouts are identical in size and shape to the first access cutouts. 
     
     
       4. The wall sleeve according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second access cutouts are positioned closer to the rear wall than the enclosure opening. 
     
     
       5. The wall sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the access cutouts are positioned closer to the rear wall than the enclosure opening. 
     
     
       6. The wall sleeve according to  claim 1 , further comprising an access door moveably mounted to the enclosure and moveable between open and closed positions over the enclosure opening of the enclosure. 
     
     
       7. The wall sleeve according to  claim 6 , wherein the access door includes a frame, a bezel mounted to the frame and a cover door. 
     
     
       8. The wall sleeve according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the sidewalls of the enclosure includes door mounting openings, the access door being mounted to the enclosure via the door mounting openings. 
     
     
       9. The wall sleeve according to  claim 8 , wherein the door mounting openings are in the form of slots. 
     
     
       10. The wall sleeve according to  claim 9 , wherein the slots having a length extend away from the enclosure opening toward the rear wall. 
     
     
       11. The wall sleeve according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tankless water heater located within the enclosure. 
     
     
       12. The wall sleeve according to  claim 11 , wherein the tankless water heater includes inlet and outlet plumbing lines, the inlet and outlet plumbing lines being associated with a common one of the access cutouts. 
     
     
       13. The wall sleeve according to  claim 12 , wherein the inlet and outlet plumbing lines extend through the common one of the access cutouts. 
     
     
       14. A wall sleeve comprising:
 a top sidewall; 
 a bottom sidewall; 
 a right sidewall, the right sidewall extending between and connecting one end of the top sidewall to a corresponding end of the bottom sidewall; 
 a left sidewall, the left sidewall extending between and connecting an opposing end of the top sidewall to a corresponding opposing end of the bottom sidewall; 
 the top sidewall extending between and connecting one end of the right sidewall to a corresponding end of the left sidewall; 
 the bottom sidewall extending between and connecting an opposing end of the right sidewall to a corresponding opposing end of the left sidewall; 
 a rear wall, the rear wall extending between and connecting together the top sidewall, the bottom sidewall, the right sidewall, left sidewall to cooperatively define an enclosure, the enclosure having an enclosure opening located opposite of the rear wall; 
 each of the top sidewall, the bottom sidewall, the right sidewall and the left sidewall having an identical configuration and including portions defining at least one access cutout extending therethrough and including portions defining at least one mounting opening extending therethrough, the mounting openings having an effective diameter smaller than an effective diameter of the access cutouts, the access cutouts being elongated openings through the top, bottom, right and left sidewalls into the enclosure; 
 the rear wall including a plurality of mounting opening extending therethrough, the mounting openings of the rear wall having an effective diameter smaller than the effective diameter of the access openings; and 
 a tankless water heater located within the enclosure, the tankless water heater including inlet and outlet plumbing lines, the inlet and outlet plumbing lines being associated with a common one of the access cutouts. 
 
     
     
       15. The wall sleeve according to  claim 14 , wherein the access cutouts are positioned closer to the rear wall than the enclosure opening. 
     
     
       16. The wall sleeve according to  claim 14 , further comprising door mounting openings defined in the top, bottom, right and left sidewalls and an access door moveably mounted to the enclosure via door mounting openings and being moveable between open and closed positions, in the closed position the access door covering the enclosure opening, in the open position the enclosure opening being unobstructed by the access door.